Tried that--his suggestion was to get rid of the cat.

No thanks!

Non-cat lovers just don't understand! :love::love::love:

Well, I guess your husband is just not a pooper scooper! Roger is always barfing up things that he eats that disagree with him. That makes me feel nauseous and I'm not even pg.

Glad it's ok to clean the box. Given what you say about being around cats etc, I must be the same way and needn't have worried about cat poop during pregnancy.

Very glad, Meowee, that you don't use a litter box. Were that the case, I would say you have more than your weight to be concerned about. :lol:

Well . . . I do sometimes making purring-type noises when talking to my cats. :lol:

Anyway . . . Jazz is home (and happy to be here I might add) . . . but, at risk of bringing you down guys, I just need to share his update with you because I know you will all understand . . .

Unfortuntely, 3 units twice a day is leaving him way too high again. Two weeks ago, 5 units twice a day was putting him really, really low. Once again I've been told how difficult it is to regulate older cats and not to get my hopes up that he will ever really stabilize. :( We will now try 4 units twice a day for the next couple of weeks. Guess there's pretty much no place else to go if that doesn't do it.

Think I need to go cuddle a cat right now. . . :^:

I bought them a new toy - a "thing in a bag". Its a paper bag with a little random vibration thing inside it so cats will chase it.

The skinny cat pounced away on it, batting it and having a grand ol' time. The fat cat fell asleep on it, flinching slightly every time it went off.

The pet store only had the treat ball things for dogs, and Bob's food is in pieces too small to be held in, so he knocks it once and all the food rolls out. Sigh.

On the self-cleaning litterbox - we had one with the two cats and we ended up getting rid of it. the little disposable containers fill up WAY too quickly (especially if your cat is drinking so much!) and then start overflowing and jamming...you'd basically have to use a new disposable waste container every day to keep it under control

If I may make a suggestion, have you tried Feline Pine litter? Specifically the Feline Pine Clumping litter? This stuff is AMAZING. Completely changed the smell of the litterbox, biodegradable, clumping, can be flushed...even if the litterbox is fairly dirty, it smells like pine. Our cats like it better, too, and its cheaper than regular litter.

It can be a little hard to find, though. I buy mine at Target.

The self-cleaning litter box would only be a problem when I go out of town--I don't mind the expense if it makes my cat (and ME!!) happy. Even then, though, I think it would be easier to get DH to empty it than to clean the box while I'm gone.

I can't imagine how my house would smell after 4 days of dirty litter :barf:.

The feline pine sounds like a good idea, too. And it's flushable??? Sounds too good to be true! I'll have to check it out, too.

Its flushable, cheaper, requires less frequent cleanings, and I guarantee to you, if you were using the feline pine, if the litterbox wasn't cleaned for 4 days, you'd barely notice. Our larger cat is also VERY fastidious, if he or his brother had used the box previously, he'd poop on the floor right in front of the box. This stuff hides odor so well that the problem went away entirely. Even if the litterbox hasn't been scooped for 3-4 days (we got called unexpectedly out of town), he goes in the box, not on the floor.

My biggest problem with the auto-cleaning ones (and we had a littermaid) was that we'd forget to clean out the disposable bucket for a day or two, and it would get so full that there'd be clumps spilling over the sides, and usually onto the floor. And then when you pick up the disposable part, its covered in litter and ickiness.

Oh, and if your cat pees a lot at a time, it might jam trying to lift the clump because it'd be really heavy. Then you get to hear it whirring, backing up and trying again, for about 10 minutes before auto-shutting off. In the middle of the litterbox.

Our cats also kick litter to one side of the box, leaving the other side empty. That jams it too, so we'd again be stuck with the little rake thing, auto shut off because it thought there was a jam, right in the middle of the box. And then the cats wouldn't use the box.

Can you tell I didn't have a good experience?

The only drawback that I've found to the feline pine is that it tracks a bit. But for our cats, it doesn't track any more than the clay litters we used previously, and the tracked stuff is essentially sawdust, so it vacuums a lot easier than a clay pellet.

Meowee, sorry to hear that your baby is not responding well to his insulin. Between the two of you, it must be difficult.

i second having bad experiences with the automatics. I also know cats that get so "freaked" out when they see it work, they won't go near it again. As for the feline pine...it is good..but i will caution those with picky cats...some cats don't like to use the litter box with "pellet" litter. I have seen some cats that don't liek the feel of the pellets and will then not use the litter box. It isn't very often...but if you switch and find your cat using the bathroom outside the litter box..it maybe due to the litter.

oh and btw...the pregnant lady cleaning the litter box things..there are lots of misconceptions. You can get a parasite from cats called toxoplasmosis...that will cause birth defects. However, this organism needs 24 hr in the air to reach infective state in the person. It has rarely been shown to be caused by inhaling the organism. So a couple things to remember...first you never should introduce a new cat into the household while pregnant. More than likely if you have the current cats in the household..either one of two things will happen...either 1. you've already been exposed to toxo..in that case its not a problem..if you've been exposed prior to pregnancy..it doesn't cause the birth defects. or 2. your current cats do not have the organism. However, you should take precautions. The most common way to get toxo is through "fecal - oral route" So wear gloves and wash hands. Also if you clean your litter box every day (24 hrs or less) then the organism can never reach the infective state. In the most common ways people actually get toxo while preggers is through ingestion of undercooked meat. So the whole litter box and pregnant women is sort of a misunderstanding. I've heard many obgyns that tell their clients they have to get rid of their cat. It makes me want to kick them when i hear that. But yes you do have to take precautions...but most likely as long as you follow the above guidelines...you shouldn't have a problem. But if it makes you sick..well then its a great excuse to have dh do it. BTW...you cat seems to drink an excessive amount of water...you sure it doesn't have any health problems??????

Gatorsgal - The new stuff they came out with (the clumping one) isn't pellets - its sort of sawdusty and very similar in texture to regular clay litter. Our pooping on the floor cat continued to do so with the pellets, but not with the clumping stuff.

very cool..didn't know they came out with a clumping one...cool. May have to check it out.

I may have to look for it too . . . so far my kittens will not urinate in anything except clumping clay . . . they've hated both the newspaper stuff and the crystal stuff . . . the adults are much more easy going (no pun intended). :lol:

PS . . . I think 4myself mentioned that her cat, Baby, is diabetic . . . guess it caught my eye more than yours, since my Jazz is diabetic also . . . accounts for the copious urination.

lol at meowee..it might actually have been that i was a bit tipsy when i typed last night and forgot she mentioned that in the previous page. That's why i ususally try not to type when drunk...can i blame the cat on it LOL

Thanks.....Yep, I did my research as soon as I found out I was expecting--but I'm sure this info. will be helpful to others, as well :)

And, yep again, Baby has diabetes. She gets 2 units twice/day. I don't really know if that's appropriate, because vet just told me 1 unit once/day and left me on my own so I've self-adjusted. This is the combo that seems to work for her, though. I know I need to take her and have her BGL tested again, but I don't feel as though my vet really cares sometimes. :dunno:

In addition to drinking excessive amounts of water (and, of course, peeing), she has also stopped grooming herself altogether. Her fur now looks like an old teddy bear (clumpy--don't know how to better explain it) and she has a perpetual smudge on her nose (she's solid white) and "litter box feet."

It was when she developed the diabetes and the peeing that the soiling started--before that I could go for a week (literally) without changing her litter as long as I scooped it out every other day or so.

From my experience with Jazz, lack of grooming is often a sign that his BGL is up. You really need to get her in for a checkup . . . but maybe you also need to shop around for a different Vet. :(

Oof. I was afraid of that. I hate (HATE) to look for a new vet. It feels like betrayal or something.

i second with mewoo..i'm a vet myself...and an animal needs a blood glucose curve when starting insulin and then a follow up a few weeks later (to see if we are doing well) then you always need one every 6 months..some animals do not do well on certain insulins. I highly recommend getting another opinion if your vet hasn't done a glucose curve or a fructosamine blood test. You have no clue how the cat is doing on insulin without it. Also, you may find that the current insulin doesn't work great for you cat and may have to find another one. My personal favorite that i find works for about 85-95% of cats is called PZI. Its a great insulin specific for cats, it is expensive but worth it. And btw...you should NEVER self adjust insulin without having a bloodcheck. if you give too much insulin the cat WILL go into a diabtic coma. Please consult a vet whenever adjusting you cat's insulin...and if your vet doesn't have the time to do this...it is time to seek out another vet bcause you can be doing more harm to you cat. it also helps if you have your cat on a specific diabetic diet (not sure if you said this..if so, sorry) hope that helps and your kitty gets better soon. Most owners after having a diabetic cat for a while will start to notice suttle changes when the cat isn't doing well. good luck!

don't look at it as betrail but as looking for good quality health care for your animal. If you were sick...and weren't getting better but your dr wasn't really helping...wouldn't you seek a second opinion?

Feline DM (Purina)--solid supply, based on vet recommendation. I supplement with about a quarter can of the DM for a "treat" about 1ce/week.

Too bad you're in GA and I'm in AR.

at least kitty is on a good diet...that's really the best for diabetes. Yep too bad you are in AK...but here is my suggestion...if you really don't feel your vet cares or is too busy..its time to find a new one. I hate to say that...but i personally try to make time for all my patients and clients..even when clinics are busy and insane i still find the time...i've been know to call clients after hours not take a lunch break etc. There's a difference in dropping everything for a difficult client that just want to complain about everyting (which i don't do) and being there for an owner concerned with a legit medical issue. I recommend talking to people you know with other pets and seeing what they like about their current vet...and then finding one that is there for you and your pet. You cat has a medical condition that will require lots of exams...a few until you get the insulin stabilized and then avisit at least every 6m. It is important you find a vet you feel is there for you and your pet. You will be seeing this person a lot. This now isn't a simple cat with an annual exam/vaccines. You cat has a medical concern (that's very easy to control) but now needs a vet who wants to be there for you. A vet who truly loves and has passion for their work will find the time and be there. A blood glucose curve not very time consuming (even though the cat stays all day) but its a very easy and rewarding thing. And honestly...its an easy thing. Occasionally you'll get an animal that won't cooperate (ie won't repsond to the insulin) but most animals are picture perfect. So maybe you should start doing some research to find a good vet near you. I wish you good luck with that. Trust me, i know not all vets are like me. Some days i def get frustrated and overwhelmed...but what i always remind myself...i'm here for the animals...and that's what you need to find. And trust me...there are plenty out ther...just do some looking. Good luck!

At least the "caring Vet supply" is getting a little closer to home . . . I was beginning to think I'd have to get you to ship Baby up here to Nova Scotia for a check-up.

nahh mewo...i do believe there really are some great vets...but you just have to do some looking...cuz i know from experience there's some not so good ones out there (i think those are the ones that are burned out)

I'm not trying to bash vets, Gatorgal . . . there are great and not so great practitioners in every field . . . and burnout happens all over, too.

My vet is so dedicated, she scares me sometimes -- she just had a baby girl about a week ago and she calls in to the office at least three times a day to check how everything is going with her replacements (yep, two of them required to pick up her total hours) and has actually been in there a couple of times, too (according to her receptionist).

She has hundreds of animal children in her practice . . . don't know how she's going to find time for the human kind, too. I think she is planning to keep at least one of the subs on permanently.

no i didn't mean you were mewoo, sorry if that was misinterpretted. I was just restating what you said and trying to get the point across that there really are some great vets...and also some not great ones...its just a matter of finding the one that works for you and your pet.

"Listening" to y'all talk makes me happy and sad at the same time.

I want my child to be with me for a long time, but I want her to be happy and healthy, too. I feel as though I have somehow let her down by not MAKING my vet follow through with some kind of treatment. It never occurred to me that the vet wouldn't TELL me to bring her back every 6 months if it was necessary, or not do an important test if it was necessary.

Now I feel like I should have questioned more. I never even knew about the BGL curve until the two of y'all started talking about it and Jazz had one the other day.

I feel like an idiot and, even worse, a TERRILBE parent! :cry:

You are not NOT NOT a terrible pet parent, 4myself. Unfortunately, you just don't have a really great Vet (at not for this kind of problem) YET.

Don't beat yourself up, since I happen to have the disease myself, I obviously would have been able to uncover his shortcomings before you -- just from my own experiences -- but now you've gotton some extra input and you know more. So get out there and prove that you are the great khat-mom we know you are. :hug:

I also know for a fact -- and I'm sure that Gatorgal will agree -- that a lot of owners when faced with an animal that was going to require a lot of attention and expense, would have just had it put down as soon as the diagnosis was received. Maybe your Vet was expecting that to be your reaction.

DO NOT Beat yourself up...you are NOT a terrible pet owner. Your were not properly informed. You are not a medical expert and i don't expect you to know about this if you have not been told about it. Please don't beat yourself up. You were doing what you thought was right since you weren't given enough information by the person that knows the best about it...your vet. Please do not for a moment think you are a terrible mom. Your kitty will be fine, and now you have some more info and are better aware. I definately think if you find a good vet, you will see the difference about how they educate the clients..sometimes it may be the petnurse doing it...but either way...you gain info. So please don't feel bad...you didn't know anybetter...hugs for you.

i had the same thing happen to my friend. She called me for advice concerned about the insulin. Come to find out her vet didn't make any recommendations about food, didn't teach her how/when to give the insulin. he just gave her a script and told her how much. She called me slightly concerned about it all. I straightened her out about diabetes, she found another vet (she lived in oregon) and then realized the difference with vets. so hang in there..you love your kitty and i can tell by your concern/worry. When you find a vet who is patient and caring, you will see what a difference it will do for you and your baby.

and yes mewoo - you are right...sad fact of the matter, many people don't want to take the time or money to put into an animal with a treatable disease. I see it a lot. I morally will NEVER put an animal down for that reason. I tell owners that there are other means even if it means finding a home that will take on the responsibility. It makes me sad to think some people see pets as disposable and don't take care as they should. I'm happy when i come to places like this post where so many ppl see their pets as babies and will do whatever is needed. I know there are a lot of great people out there...but unfortanatley my experience being a shelter vet a few years ago also showed me how horrible people can be to pets. So i feel that even if i can't personally help 4myselfs cat due to distance...if i've educated you and helped you out some (even if its helping you realize maybe you need a new vet)...then i've done a part to make your animals health better. And that's the number one reason i went to vet school. My love and compassion for animals and their owners. Hang in there 4myself, you are doing the best you know how to...you just didn't get the best info. You love your animal and that is something important. (:

hey i think we hijacked this thread, so its a hijacking of a hijacking LOL...

Hi there all you cat women . . . where are you hiding?

Bob actually uses the food-puzzle-toy. I'm not sure how much exercise he's going to get in the 6-7 times he has to bat the little toy to get all of his food ration out, but hey, its something.

hey mandalinn...at least its a little better than him sitting around while he's eating...maybe it isn't the jazzercise workout he really needs...but at least its a bit more exercise (:

lol at myself...just got a mental image of bob...with leg warmers and high top sneakers doing jazzercise. LMAO @ me...okay...maybe i need some professional help LOL

Its even funnier if you've actually seen Bob...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...bandpepper.jpg

lmao..yep definately funnier with a pic of the cat. Hmmm i wonder if the make leg warmers in "fat cat" size LOL

both of them are very cute.

Well, I live in the middle of nowhere and apparently have a "sign" outside for all stray cats, lol. We have 8, used to be 10 (2 were adopted). I cannot turn them away! So we take them to the clinic to have them spayed and try to find them homes, but that never works. But I sure don't have any mice!! We have 3 adults and 5 kittens. My kids love to watch the kittens play and fight. It's funny to see all of the little personalities coming out.

Morning everybody . . . I'm on the fly this morning . . . see you later . . . :wave:

I'll keep an eye out for those leg-warmers in my travels . . . and Bob looks like he could use a head/belly-band, too. :lol:

Hi there MRS262 . . . nice to meet you. :yes:

I just took Spencer out for his first walk. HE LOVED IT. I'm going to have to do that daily now or he's gonna try to get out un
unescorted :)

Good Morning . . . it's a beautiful day for the start of our long Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada so hopefully the good weather will continue and hopefully I will stay out of those "all the trimmings" that seem to go along with the turkey. :lol:

I'm exhausted and I ache everywhere after the great deal of furniture rearranging and new toy assembling that has been going on since Wednesday. Both GADZELLA (the Gazelle) and TRAMP (the Urban Rebounder) are in place and functional now . . . Yippee . . . and BUDDY (the Stability Ball) has turned into a fine new computer chair since I gave him a little more air. Think I'll be fine with the Rebounder (although I will have to fight the cats for it since they've decided it makes a fine new bed) but it may take me a bit of time to conquer the Gazelle . . . it's :eek:

Have a great moving and shaking day, gang . . . :carrot:

Hapy Thanksgiving, from Ontario!!! Love the East Coast, and my sister went to Dal, but I digress...
Is it too late to join the conversation????
I have four cats. We were supposed to have two, but when I found Miss Kira Killmousesky (our Polish cat...) at the SPCA, her mom was in the cage with her sitting in the litter box looking depressed. So I brought her home too (Mrs. Maya). It turned out that she was knocked up (!), and had a litter of ONE - yes only ONE - two days after we brought her home. She had a little calico cat named Calamity Jane, since we weren't expecting her. With all the estrogen in the house, my DH wanted us to find a boy, so we brought home Mr. Samwise Gamje Gerberstein the Fourth (as in "the fourth cat"...). Yup, DH named him.
Well, they are all outside right now enjoying our great fall weather while I am preparing turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce for dinner!
Have a great one!

Never too late . . . love the names of your cats. :yes: BTW, I was born and raised in Toronto and went to York. Transferred down here about 13 years ago. Funny how small this old world really is, isn't it. :lol: Hope your dinner was terrific. I won't be doing the turkey thing until Sunday.